Meet Lauren Brazile of We Grow LA, We Grow Inglewood, We Grow Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Brazile.

Hi Lauren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always believed that community changes when people feel supported, safe, seen, and connected to a shared purpose. My journey started through service, event production, and relationship building across Los Angeles. Over the years, I worked behind the scenes in community and civic engagement, festival production, and talent management. That experience has taught me how powerful it is when people come together with intention.

After seeing firsthand how many families were struggling with food insecurity, lack of safe spaces, and limited access to resources — especially after the pandemic — I knew I wanted to create something more direct and community-rooted. That’s how We Grow LA was born.

What started as a simple grocery giveaway quickly evolved into a multi-layered community movement. We realized people also needed connection, dignity, opportunity, wellness, education, and spaces where they could simply breathe and feel cared for. Since launching in 2023, We Grow LA has grown into an organization that has served over 25,000 families across Los Angeles through weekly grocery distributions, youth programming, wellness initiatives, small business support, beautification projects, and safe-space community events.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been building something community-centered while navigating limited resources, inconsistent funding, and the emotional weight that comes with serving communities that are often overlooked. There were many moments where we were operating purely on faith, passion, volunteer support, and the determination to keep showing up no matter what.

As a woman leading in community spaces, I’ve also learned that leadership comes with pressure. Sometimes people only see the events, the photos, or the recognition, but they don’t always see the long nights, difficult decisions, setbacks, or sacrifices behind the scenes. There have been moments where I questioned whether I was doing enough or whether we would have the resources to continue growing.

At the same time, those challenges shaped me. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of community. Some of our greatest opportunities and partnerships came during difficult seasons. I’ve learned that consistency matters, relationships matter, and people remember how you make them feel long after an event is over.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We Grow LA, We Grow Inglewood, and We Grow Long Beach are community-rooted organizations focused on food access, safe spaces, wellness, youth empowerment, small business support, and neighborhood-centered impact across Los Angeles. What began as a grassroots grocery giveaway has evolved into a multi-layered movement centered around dignity, connection, and sustainable community growth.

At our core, we believe community care should feel welcoming, intentional, and empowering. One of the things that sets us apart is that we combine direct service with culture, creativity, and relationship-building. Our weekly grocery giveaway at the Slauson Super Mall is not just about distributing food… it’s about creating an environment where families feel valued, supported, and connected. We often describe our approach as creating spaces where people can breathe, grow, and feel hope again.

Since launching in 2023, We Grow LA has served over 25,000 families through grocery distributions, wellness activations, youth programming, beautification projects, school partnerships, community events, and entrepreneurship support. We’ve also worked alongside local schools, churches, elected officials, small businesses, artists, and volunteers to strengthen impact throughout Los Angeles County.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is growth… not just personal growth, but collective growth within communities, relationships, and systems. Two philosophies that deeply shaped my perspective are ‘Kaizen’ and ‘Ubuntu.’

I was introduced to the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen while interning at Honda North American Headquarters. ‘Kaizen’ means continuous improvement through consistent, intentional actions over time. It teaches us that meaningful impact is not always created through one massive moment, but through small, steady efforts repeated with care and purpose.

At the same time, I’ve always felt deeply connected to the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which is often summarized as, “I am because we are.” Ubuntu emphasizes our shared humanity and the idea that our growth and well-being are connected to one another. That philosophy resonates deeply with the work we do through We Grow because community transformation does not happen in isolation — it happens through relationships, trust, collaboration, and care.

Together, those philosophies have shaped how I learn, lead, and how I approach impact. Kaizen reminds me to keep improving and showing up consistently, while Ubuntu reminds me that the work is ultimately about people and connection.

Pricing:

• Always accepting donations!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Wegrowla.com
• Instagram: @wegrowla @wegrowinglewood @wegrowlongbeach @laurenbrazile